Leucanthemum plant named ‘Sunrimaiapy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘Sunrimaiapy’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets and bright yellow-colored disc florets; no vernalization requirement for flowering; good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Leucanthemum x superbum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNRIMAIAPY’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Leucanthemum Plant Named ‘SUNRIMAIZY’

Inventor: Scott C. Trees

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant, botanically known as Leucanthemum x superbum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrimaiapy’.

The new Leucanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Leucanthemum plants with a compact mounded habit, continuous flowering habit, numerous attractive inflorescences, no vernalization requirement for flowering, good garden performance and good winter hardiness.

The new Leucanthemum plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2016 of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Leucanthemum x superbum as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Leucanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in August, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif., since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Leucanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrimaiapy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrimaiapy’ as a new and distinct Leucanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period.     -   5. Large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray         florets and bright yellow-colored disc florets.     -   6. No vernalization requirement for flowering.     -   7. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘White Magic’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more freely branching than         plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucanthemum are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower more consistently and         longer than plants of ‘White Magic’.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sunrimaizy’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differs from plants of ‘Sunrimaizy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are shorter and have shorter         internodes than plants of ‘Sunrimaizy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have smaller leaves than         plants of ‘Sunrimaizy’.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have more inflorescences per         plant than plants of ‘Sunrimaizy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have single-type         inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Sunrimaizy’ have semi-double         to double-type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Crazy Daisy’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have single-type         inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ have double-type         inflorescences.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Leucanthemum are flatter and         not as twisting as ray florets of plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernalization         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ require         vernalization for flowering.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ produce the pungent         and foul fragrance typical of Leucanthemum plants.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can also be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Becky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have darker green-colored         leaves than plants of ‘Becky’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have single-type         inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Becky’ have semi-double type         inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower for a longer period of         time plants of ‘Becky’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernalization         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Becky’ require vernalization         for flowering.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Becky’ produce the pungent and foul         fragrance typical of Leucanthemum plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Leucanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Leucanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrimaiapy’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrimaiapy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 1.5-gallon containers during the summer in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Leucanthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched two times and were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sunrimaiapy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White             Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Leucanthemum x             superbum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eleven days at             temperatures about 23° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 17 days at             temperatures about 13° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 to 40             days at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 55 to 65             days at temperatures about 13° C. to 16° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, semi-fibrous;             typically creamy white in color, actual color of the roots             is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense; rapid root system             development. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; relatively             compact, upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with             about ten to twelve primary branches each with numerous             secondary branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 22.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 39.5 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter, at the             base: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to             137C and 144A to 144B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 8.75 cm. Width: About 3.25 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate to             oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Prominent             midvein; pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 146A. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to a blend of 147B and 146A; venation, close             to 146A to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 5.3 cm. Width:             About 3.5 mm to 4 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large single-type inflorescences with ligulate-             shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets; inflorescences             held upright on strong peduncles, inflorescences face mostly             upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Plants begin flowering about twelve             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring into the late summer in Northern Illinois.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for several weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 60             or more inflorescences develop per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Flattened sphere. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 35 arranged             in about one to two whorls. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:             About 7 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute, emarginate or             praemorse. Base: Attenuate; fused at the base into a short             tube. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Mostly flat to             slightly twisting. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; not rugose; matte. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 157D;             fused base, close to 144A; color does not change with             subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155D; fused base, close to 144A; color             does not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 342 massed             at the center of the receptacle arranged in numerous whorls.             Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: Proximally, about 1 mm and             distally, about 1.5 mm. Shape: Fused tubular with apices             free. Apex: Acute, five-pointed. Texture and luster, inner             and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, when opening and fully opened, inner surface: Apex:             Close to 12A. Mid-section: Close to 144A. Base: Close to             154D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 44             arranged in about two to three whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute with obtuse             tendencies. Base: Fused to the base of the receptacle.             Margin: Entire, membraneous. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter, at the base: About             8 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137C and 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: Five per disc floret. Filament             length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C to 145D.             Anther shape: Roughly oblong. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 10A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter:             Less than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close             to 12A to 12B. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close             to 154D. Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Leucanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Leucanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Leucanthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucanthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance, no requirement for     vernalization and to tolerate wind and rain, to suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zones 5 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucanthemum plant named ‘Sunrimaiapy’ as illustrated and described. 